POS0356-PARE IN OUR HAND – SELF MANAGEMENT COURSE (FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Authors: M. Nudel
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Since 2016 we had a dream to construct a self-management course for members of The Israeli association for RMDs patients Mifrakim Tz’eirim . On September 2018, our CEO heard a lecture by Mrs. Mary Vella, the president of ARAM Malta, and the rest is history. We approached PARE through AGORA for the Knowledge Transfer Program Grant and got approved in February 2019. The need to develop such a course came from members of the association, as well as posts in Facebook groups. Concerns, fears, and uncertainties about how to live with a chronic illness. Mifrakim Tz’eirim is committed to reaching out to children, youth, adults and seniors with autoimmune and inflammatory joint diseases and rare autoimmune and various inflammatory diseases and to their families. The association assists its members and provides them with support and available tools on a personal, family, and social level. Our goal is to act for increasing public awareness of these diseases and their day-to-day impact on patients, to expand knowledge and disseminate information about them, patient rights and innovations in treatment, as well as to promote access to a variety of advanced treatments and medications for the members. Objectives Providing tools for daily coping and optimal conduct in chronic illness situations in a wide range of aspects: a self-management triangle: a. Medical / biological (better / helpful understanding of the situation) b. Emotional (Identify and manage the emotional impact) c. Social (adjusting the way you manage your daily life) Methods: Receiving a grant from PARE - The Knowledge Transfer Program Grant, through AGORA Cooperation with ARAM - Arthritis &amp; Rheumatism Association Malta A study visits to Malta Monitoring the process in Israel by ARAM Founding a management team for the course Localizing adaptation of the learned content for Israelis and introducing new content of our own Promotion of the course to the association members, selecting participants December 2019 the first course started. In 2020-2021 we had 3 more cycles of the course to the members. We had 40 participations 9. Following the pilot course - generating conclusions, lessons, and adjustment of the syllabus accordingly 10. Three more courses are planned for 2022 Results: Excellent feedback from ARAM during the control performed Participants provided outstanding feedback on the course Course graduates established designated WhatsApp groups for ongoing mutual support, thus creating empowerment circles, including periodic physical meetings Conclusion: In My Hands course provides a highly efficient and relevant toolbox. The course should be continually offered to people coping with chronic diseases Finger on the pulse - ongoing drawn conclusions to be implemented for adjusting the syllabus The course should be promoted gently, since it marks a change in life, which can threat some people’s perception We have expanded and offered participation to members of other patient associations that we collaborate with Graduates of the course become ambassadors, spreading the benefits received by the course Graduates of the course are a vivid example of the chance of improving your life even when you cope with chronic diseases Graduates of the course influence their immediate circles to adapt and adopt changing habits References [1]In In Our Hand - Self Management Course - Israel Malta Report, Submitted to Pare 29.04.2020 Acknowledgements: PARE, EULAR KTP AGORA Board platform for South European organizations of Patients with RMDs Mrs. Mary Vella, President, ARAM Dr. Mariella Borg Buontempo, Consultant in public health medicine, Maltese Ministry for Health Prof. Gleb Slobodin, Senior Rheumatologist, medical supervisor to the Israeli course Mrs. Hily Wollach, Chairwoman of Mifrakim Tze’irim, and the Association Board members The Israeli course Management Team and lecturers Last but not least - Mifrakim Tze’irim members who took part in the courses Disclosure of Interests None declared